by Nicole Henry, ND, Toronto, Canada

It seems that everyone is talking about mindfulness these days. Health columnists are writing about it. Teachers are introducing it in their classrooms. Even in the business world, many companies offer wellness workshops that talk about its merits. Mindfulness, some claim, can improve your mood, boost your sports and work performance, decrease your pain, and more.

But what are the actual benefits of mindfulness? And what do you need to do to realize the benefits?

by Philip Rouchotas, MSc, ND, Canada

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as “enlarged prostate,” is a noncancerous growth of the prostate gland that affects a large proportion of men over the age of 50. By the age of 80, the vast majority of men are affected by this condition, which includes symptoms of urinary urgency, frequency, and reduced urine flow.^[1, 2] This article reviews some of the data on natural agents as well as dietary factors in managing BPH.

by Dr. Evan McCarvill, ND, Upper Beach Health & Wellness, Melfort, Canada

A fairly common but often underrecognized condition I encounter as a naturopathic doctor is “chronic yeast infection”; something you may have heard of. It is also sometimes called Candida overgrowth syndrome (COS). This condition can manifest through a variety of mild, systemic, nonspecific symptoms, which may go unexplained and untreated for months or even years at a time for many patients.

By Dr. Sarah King ND, 5-3405 South Millway,Mississauga, Ontario,L5L 3R1

When travelling to tropical and subtropical regions, there is always a chance of contracting a bacterial infection that turns into traveller’s diarrhea. It is estimated that about 30–50% of travellers develop traveller’s diarrhea in the first two weeks abroad.^[1][2][3]

By Dr. Alison Chen

Introduction

What supplements do you take to support your fitness goals? Talk to any athlete or visit your favorite fitness website, and you’ll get a long list of different capsules and powders that help to support the development of muscle strength, endurance, recovery, and general health. As a naturopathic doctor, I make it my job to know what supplements, backed by science and research, are best to help those looking to enhance their fitness efforts.

By: Heidi Fritz, MA, ND, Bolton Ontario

Why Vitamin D?

Vitamin D3, also known as cholecalciferol or “the sunshine vitamin,” is an emerging nutrient with an array of potential therapeutic roles. In addition to its well-known role in bone health, vitamin D is being studied as an important agent in modulating immune function, mood, and cognitive function, as well as its impact on cardiovascular risk factors and protective effects against cancer development.^[1] In this series, we will review the most recent science in some of these areas; we begin with a discussion of how vitamin D works and consideration of “therapeutic blood levels.”

By Dr. Sarah King, ND, Toronto

Many of us tend to underestimate the power of our gastrointestinal tracts (GIT). As far as it concerns us in the most basic sense, our stomach digests the food we eat, and then we poop it out; sounds like a pretty effective and concise system. But the world inside the GIT is actually an entire ecosystem, carrying on in constant activity. The bacterial colonies within this system interact with the food we send down, create a habitat, and take up space along the intestinal lining; sending signals, communicating with us! There are literally trillions of living microorganisms inside of you, with the power of suggestion over you. Are you experiencing constant sugar cravings? Feel anxious or have a low mood? Do you tend to have abdominal cramping and/or bowel urgency when you’re anxious or stressed? These experiences are all guided by the enteric-gut-brain axis.